Judge rule state lawmaker should be paid; Quinn vows to appeal

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A judge ordered the state to issue paychecks to legislators after a long debate involving politicians, pensions and public perception.

Judge Neil Cohen ordered that the state start payroll again and make up for two past missed paychecks. The lawsuit was filed by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate president John Cullerton

One week after a judge heard arguments regarding the constitutionality of halting political paychecks to get elected officials to prioritize ballooning pension problems in Illinois, Quinn is refusing to accept defeat.

Vowing to appeal the judge’s decision, Gov Quinn called the pension problem the most critical challenge of our time. So he refuses to give up.

While other lawmakers could see deposits in their accounts as early as tomorrow, Quinn is holding out, no paycheck for him. the candidate for re-election wishes his colleagues would, too.

“I don’t think anyone should get paid and I am not taking a paycheck until this important priority is done,” he said tonight.

Stopping lawmakers’ pay in order to get politicians to pay attention to the state’s growing pension problem was viewed by many as a cheap, but perhaps effective election stunt by the governor. But not everyone in Springfield agrees.

“Personally I get concerned about the precedent that this all sets,” Judy Baar Topinka said. “That’s government by blackmail.”

diane

@ Chris~

You may like the the idea of Quinn with-holding paychecks but its quite illegal. Unconstitutional. What if Obama told Supreme Court Justices that if they didn't rule along party lines that they would not be paid or could be replaced. Can't threaten legislators.